
BookB2J\^5)3 



Copyright 1^^_ 



mk 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 



THE 

DAYS THAT PASS 

BY 

HELEN HUNTINGTON 



NEW YORK : JOHN LANE COMPANY, MCMVI 
LONDON : JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD 



v^—^tfHi 



Copyright 

1906 

By John Lane Company 

All rights reserved 



LieaARY of CONGRESS I 
Two Copies Received 
MAR 6 190/ 
IV.Gopyrieht Entry 

CUSS Ai XXc.Jno. 

COPY B. , 






THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. 










CONTENTS 



^ Page 

j4 The Voice of June .... i 

Land 3 

Song 4 

A Voice in the Dark 5 

Iris 6 

Ambition 8 

A Spanish Girl's Love Song , 10 

Values 11 

The Beloved 12 

A Toast 14 

Echoes of Other Songs 15 

The Lord came into the Opera House ... 16 

Gardens 18 

The Star Sapphire 20 

Girgenti 21 

Campo Santo 22 

Beyond Knowledge 23 

The Well of Truth 24 

Love 25 

A Man Speaks 26 

From the Street 27 

The Nurse 29 

Gossip 30 



CONTENTS 



Pagb 

A Woman 31 

Desire for Expression 3* 

At Love's Grave 33 

The Supreme Hour 35 

Distant Lands 36 

The Instrument 37 

Haunted 38 

In Winter 39 

Words 40 

The Vision 41 

Purple Shadows 43 

The Lost Leader 45 

Jewels 46 

The Union 47 

The Aged Land 48 

The Faces 49 

The Departing Guest 50 

Forbidden • . 51 

Revolt 52 

Unavailing 53 

The Poet 54 

The Days that Pass 55 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 



THE VOICE OF JUNE 

THE voice of June breathed soft within 
my ear : 
" Come forth, sad Heart, the charmed night 

is ours. 
Through faint green haze there shines a 

silver moon ; 
A carpeting of dreams, the grass is spread 
All velvet soft and colourless and wan. 
The fire-flies glitter low upon the ground. 
Or tangled, star-like, in the sombre trees : 
Beneath the moon's cold rays the yellow 

rose 
Has paled, the peony is colourless. 
The poppy seems a dim and faded ghost. 
Now magic reigns, the hours are drenched 

with dew 
And warm with summer and alight with 

stars. 



2 THE DAYS THAT PASS 

A thousand perfumes die upon the air. 
And pale, sweet phantoms slip throughout 

the gloom 
Like unborn loves, or memories of joy. 
All little daylight lives are drowned in sleep ; 
The very winds are still, the distant sea 
In slumber broods upon the soundless 

shore. 
Come forth, come forth ! " it whispered to 

my soul. 
That voice and all music, pain, and mystery. 
Oh, dream divine ! I walked alone with 

June 
Amid the silent shadows of the night. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 



LAND 

BACK to my mother, the Earth, 
From that stranger, the Sea ; 
Deep in the hills to have birth. 
In the fields to be free ; 
Free from the fretting of wave. 

From the hissing of foam, 
And fears of a fathomless grave ; 
I am home, I am home. 

Peace of the islands once more. 

With the scent of the sod. 
Dwellings of men on the shore. 

And the forests of God ; 
Safe from the dread of the deep. 

From its drunken embrace. 
Earth, in your arms I may sleep ! 

I am back in my place. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 



SONG 

IN the grey of the bleak March weather, 
The thought of you Ls May, 
And though dead are the days together, 
Your name is song to-day. 

And if age must be met to-morrow 
The thought of you is youth ; 

The world is a lie and sorrow. 
But love is living truth. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 



A VOICE IN THE DARK 



AFTER all but one thing matters. 
To be brave ; 
Whether fortune frowns or flatters. 

Glad or grave. 
Young and strong, or old and failing, 

Well or ill. 
Soul aglow, or faint and ailing, 
Valiant still. 



Fearless, though the way be lonely. 

Stout of heart. 
Silent, if to speak be only 

Craven part ; 
tate and foemen leagued forever, 

On we plod. 
Vanquished oft, despairing never. 

Up to God. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 



IRIS 

NEVER a woman, you say. 
Never a wife, 
Only the rose of a day 
A dream In a life. 

Loved, and unconquered by love. 

Remote, in your arms, 
Eyes for some vision above, 

Deaf to alarms. 

Love me or not, as you will. 

Prison me fast. 
Mine is the victory still. 

Freedom at last. 

Love, with its tremulous fire. 

Burns in my heart, 
Still from a lover's desire 

Dwell I apart. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 7 

Glory the star of my sky. 

Beauty my own. 
Touched by all joys, as they fly, 

Still I 'm alone. 

Render your loss, as it seems. 
Where to fate it belongs, — 

I am a daughter of dreams, 
A mother of songs. 



8 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



AMBITION 

I TO OK my little love from her place so 
still and warm 
And dragged her forth with me, just to 
keep her safe from harm. 

The woods were wild and black, and the 
way was rough and long. 

It mattered not a whit, for my little love 
was strong. 

Just once, amid the dark and the storm that 

followed after, 
I heard a childish plea for a little love and 

laughter. 

" We may not stop our course ! " I ex- 
claimed with eager pride, 

" What matter weariness and pain when we 
are side by side ! " 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 9 

So dim it was and wild, with the rising 
wind and gale, 

1 never knew at all that my love was grow- 
ing pale ; 

I never missed her hand, till it slipped from 

out my hold, 
I never knew she fell, till I saw her still and 

cold. 

But now I onward press, amid all the snow 

and sleet, 
No little clinging hand to check, no little 

lagging feet. 



lo THE DAYS THAT PASS 



A SPANISH GIRUS LOVE 
SONG 

WHAT is warm in my veins like the 
sun in September, 
What swings me remote as the rose-cloud 
above. 
What is yours to forget that is mine to re- 
member ? 
It is love, Rafael, it is love ! 



THE DAYS THAT PASS ii 



(C 



cc 



VALUES 

WHAT shall I gain, O Tempter ! 
if 1 throw my heart to the crowd?" 
Fame/* he replied, " and curious glance, 
and praises ringing loud." 

What in exchange, O Tempter ! 

if I drown my love in the sea ? " 
Sleep," he replied, " and quiet days with 

never a memory." 

" And what for reward, O Tempter ! 

if I dig a grave for my dreams ? " 
" Peace," he replied, " and pride of place 

and all that the world esteems." 

" And what at the end, O Tempter ! 

when I reach the farthermost goal, 
And stand alone at the gates of Night, 
a poor little naked soul ? " 



12 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



THE BELOVED 

OH, softly, softly came she forth from 
out the golden West, 

The one my heart had yearned for long, the 
spirit loved the best. 

I stood quite silent, trembling, pale, as Soli- 
tude drew near. 

At last she came, the peerless one, to secret 
forests dear. 

No sound, no sound, but all the world a- 
thrill with strange surprise. 

The midnight's calm reflected deep within 
her sombre eyes ; 

The hush surrounding her was like the hush 
of drowsy noon. 

And shadows followed in her wake as twi- 
light followed soon. 

I looked upon her face and felt the glory of 
the earth. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 13 

A sense obscure of all the mighty calms that 
gave her birth. 

The desert sands, the mountain snows — my 
spirit flew to these, 

The awful peace that broods afar on undis- 
covered seas. 

And while I dreamed the sun sank low and 
slowly passed from sight, 

I stood alone with Solitude, the crescent 
moon grew bright : 

Ah, God ! the hour ineffable ! what mysteries 
I guessed 

When Solitude at last I held upon my ach- 
ing breast. 

Together, all the voices hushed and all the 
strangers flown. 

The night around me, starry dreams, and 
Solitude my own ! 



14 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



A TOAST 

FOR friends, the summer wind, the 
winter fire 1 
For foes, forgetfulness that kindest seems ; 
To each and ev'ry one his heart's desire ; 
But still for me my dreams 1 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 15 



ECHOES OF OTHER SONGS 

ECHOES of other songs still haunt my 
ears, 
My spirit hears 
A music mute for many songless years. 

Shadows of other scenes in misty blur 

My fancies stir ; 
I dream again the old-time dream of her. 

Passion and pleasure, each is but a name, 

And love the same, — 
Yet once my life was lit with sudden flame. 

Tears have I none, repentance, nor regret. 

Nor pain, — and yet. 
All peace to know the trouble I forget ! 



i6 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



THE LORD CAME INTO THE 
OPERA HOUSE 

HE stood in a corner, remote, unseen, and 
unknown. 
And up to him floated the dust and the 

crash of chords. 
The scent of humanity, crowded and warm 

and perfumed. 
He saw the debauch of colours and jewels 

and flowers, 
The pageant of play and the pomp of the 

world in its power. 
He saw, from his station, aloft in the corner 

dim. 
The faces of women and men, and of master 

and slave. 
And the eyes of the Lord, yes, the eyes of 

the holy Lord, 
Looked deep in the souls and discovered the 

secret shame. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 17 

The pride and the lust and the treachery, 

furtive and sure. 
The disease and desire and iniquity, covered 

and hid ; 
And the heart of the Lord, yes, the heart of 

the holy Lord 
Was compassion and love, for He knew 

the devouring pain. 



i8 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



GARDENS 

THO' tossed on foreign seas 
*Mid mist and gloaming, 
Beneath those distant trees 
My thoughts are roaming. 

Below an azure sky 

The park lies dreaming, 

And there my gardens lie, 
With summer gleaming. 

The garden warm with noon 

And sweet with roses, 
A red rose falls, and soon 

A white uncloses. 

The garden, dim and old. 
Where white flowers only. 

Drink deep the moonlight cold 
On midnights lonely. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 19 

The garden near the coast 

Where broom is golden 
And sunflowers flaunt and boast. 

To winds beholden. 

Ah, weary, sea-worn hours ! 

That dreams might capture, 
From distant ways of flowers. 

The earth-born rapture ! 



20 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



THE STAR SAPPHIRE 

ID RE AM of twilight closing softly down 
With veil on veil of cool, delicious dye ; 
From rose to blue, from blue to violet ; 
Then Venus, pale within the purple sky. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 21 



GIRGENTI 

THE vision lingers still within my brain ; 
I sometimes see, though shut in city- 
room, 
That far, sweet corner of the world again : 
The temples rising from the almond 
bloom, 

The early morning lights on plain and 
town, 
The golden convent walls and still blue 
sea. 
The distant mountains with their snowy 
crown. 
And all my heart cries out for Italy. 



22 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



CAMPO SANTO 

FOR what IS love but fever and disease? 
How cool is death ! its ice dispels all 
ill. 
And what is living? — torment none may 
ease. 
Discordant symphony : but death is still. 
The world's a glare of cruel, blinding light, 
And death is dark with blessed eternal night. 

And so he passed within the massive gates. 

Along the avenue of cypress shade, 
To halls where carven sepulchres await. 
With tombs of porphyry and granite 
made : 
There marble statues keep their silent trust. 
While, buried deep, the dead return to 
dust. 
Bologna. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 23 



BEYOND KNOWLEDGE 

OLOVE5 who once, with pale and flower- 
like face, 
Smiled suddenly in London's crowded space, 

A pleading vision, dreams within your eyes, 
And love upon your lips in wan disguise ; 

You, whom I loved despite of all your fears. 
Within whose grave lie lost my golden years. 

Could I but know that all with you was 

peace. 
Perchance this agony of loss would cease. 

Oh, Sweet, oh, wistful, long-remembered, lost. 
What dread frontier those timid feet have 
crossed ! 

In some far Heaven is your smile less sad ? 
And has your little shrinking soul grown 
glad? 



24 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



THE WELL OF TRUTH 



w 



HY lean so long above the well. 
And strain your eyes within ? 
The west is rose, sweet Isabel, 
The night will soon begin. 



The sun is gold as golden sheaves, 
The Autumn sky is pale, 

The yellow, yellow Autumn leaves 
Skim down upon the gale. 

" I lean so long above the well. 
Because there lies within 

One hated good," said Isabel ; 
"And one delightful sin." 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 25 



L 



LOVE 

ITTLE darling, I love you so, 
I watch at ev*ry cruel word's sur- 
prise 
The mists steal slowly in your scornful eyes. 
The hot red colour sweep across your cheek, 
I see you tremble, grow more worn and 
weak. 

Little darling, I love you so ! 
What joy to know I have within my will 
Such force to hurt, such potency to kill. 
You, frail and small, unloving, still I hold 
Mine, mine, to torture till your years are 
told ! 



i6 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



A MAN SPEAKS 

OUR little rose-soft sisters ! 
With laughing lips and tender eyes, 
Our sisters, made of dew and flame. 

Of sunlight, snow, and starlit skies 
Drift on — forevermore the same. 

Our little foolish sisters ! 

Created fair, that love be born. 
And then to pain and torment hurled, 

To first allure, and then, forlorn 
And puzzled, face an iron world. 

Our little broken sisters ! 

Too frail to meet their evil chance. 
Who made them fair enough for love 

But all too weak for circumstance ? 
The cry from earth to God above. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 27 



FROM THE STREET 

IF5 by some chance, we were only nearer, 
I, with disdain of Fortune^s frown, 
And you, some demure little clerk, the 
dearer 
For all that was poor in hat and gown. 

Quite by ourselves in the noisy city. 

Love in your eyes, and dreams beside. 

None to observe us with hate or pity. 

Untrammelled by fashion or caste or 
pride. 

What words I would say to you then, grown 

bolder. 

Words coming warm and sweet and fast. 

And you, with your head very near my 

shoulder. 

Could whisper your inmost heart at last. 



28 THE DAYS THAT PASS 

Ah, but the world bears no defying, 

Each to his own through endless days, 

I but a polished vagrant, crying ; 

" Vive la Boheme and all its ways." 

You just part of a well-judged marriage. 

Trained to your place with grace com- 
plete, 
With pensive look, as you pass in your 
carriage. 
For one who bows from the dusty 
street. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 29 



THE NURSE 

SOMETIMES when, after endless days 
of pain. 
Our cries have grown too faint to reach to 

God, 
When the great solitudes of Heaven's peace 
Re-echo back to us our shrill despair, 
Then comes the tolerant and aged world. 
And lifts us up upon her ample knees. 
Murmurs within our ears her foolish tales. 
And fills our hands with bright futilities. 
We know her false and trivial and vain. 
Absorbed in senile schemes and crude dis- 
play, 
Yet, for a time, her presence eases care ; 
A fond old nurse she seems, exacting nought 
But pretty ways and mock obedience. 
She knows no ills her favour may not cure. 
So, looking up within that mellow face. 
We force a smile and find forgetfulness. 



so THE DAYS THAT PASS 



GOSSIP 

WE knew them friends ; he held her 
glance. 
Her hidden thought could understand ; 
Yet he *s in England, she 's in France, 
For fear lest he might touch her hand. 

And two who loved with soul and mind 
Said calm good-bye, with civil lies. 

Lest they the common road might find. 
And learn to love with lips and eyes. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 31 



A WOMAN 

DEAR love, I lay my head upon your 
breast. 
Within your arms my refuge and my 

strength, 
For here is joy, and here is peace, at 
length. 
And here my little doubting heart may rest. 

Ah, love, you see how small I am and weak. 
What trifles make me smile or turn to 

tears, 
What few words wound, what shadows 
rouse my fears. 
In you my comfort and my help I seek. 
• • • • • • .. 

And so your truth is but a squalid lie ! 
I see, incredulous, your evil frown. 
Ah God ! 't is your hand, love, that 
strikes me down. 
'T is here, beneath your feet, that I must die ! 



32 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



DESIRE FOR EXPRESSION 

IF man might keep the magic of the earth ! 
Produce in art creation and re-birth, 
The wonder and the gloom to write in 

verse. 
Or paint in perfect colour ! Ah ! the curse, 
Which makes the moonlight seen on moun- 
tain snows 
Delicious pain, and where the summer glows 
Instils a glory all despair and fears. 
I looked upon the twilight hills with tears ; 
And when at night I heard the sombre trees, 
Stir soft in music of the vagrant breeze, 
I cursed mortality's tormenting fate. 
To hear, incompetent to re-create. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 33 



AT LOVE'S GRAVE 

WITHIN the grave lies love, long 
cold and still. 
But round it still, at dusk or midnight 
chill. 
The ghosts of mem'ry wander at their 
will. 

I see her then as when I loved her best. 
The fleeting smile which mocked her 
soul's unrest, 
The sun-kissed Southern flowers upon 
her breast. 

Too light she seemed for love ; her soul, 
alas ! 
Reflected pain and passion which did 
pass. 
As shifting shapes are shown within a 
glass. 

3 



34 THE DAYS THAT PASS 

Her life upon the tide of chance was toss*t, 
A fragile little boat with rudder lost, 
I saw the danger, saved, at any cost 1 

So love has fled, and faded all my fears, 
Within my heart but echo, faint with 
years. 
Her voice, her laughter, and her April 
tears. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 35 



THE SUPREME HOUR 

WITH rocking trees and slanting sun 
the very last hour dies, 
On golden marsh and seas profoundly blue, 

in rose-hued skies ; 
My heart is restless — like the sea, and 

stormy — like the wind. 
Will love go with us, Barbara, or leave we 
love behind ? 

O hour that stings with cold, O hour that 

woos with golden glow. 
That blinds with jewelled splendour of 

wave and cloud and snow. 
O hour supreme, when once your bright 

but wintry sun has set. 
Will love be ours to hold. Beloved, or only 

to forget? 



36 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



DISTANT LANDS 

I WALK along the well-known, common 
ways. 
Familiar scenes I view with careless eyes. 
These trees and hills can show me no 
surprise 
These fields encompass calm, contented days. 
And yet, at times, perceived through fancy's 
haze. 
Perhaps some strange and distant land 

will rise, 
Some land of other zones and other skies. 
Where earth unapprehended moods displays. 

If certain names are spoken without care 
My heart is stirred with half-forgotten grief; 

The spell creeps back upon me unaware. 
And time and distance fade with unbelief; 

For once, in distant lands, I faced despair. 
And once I dreamed a love, divine and 
brief. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 37 



THE INSTRUMENT 

MY body is the dim refracting lens 
Through which alone can knowl- 
edge come to me, 
With these poor eyes alone my soul can 
see, 
Through this weak frame alone it compre- 
hends. 

Were I but furnished with an instrument 
Which perfectly transmitted shape and 

sound, 
I might go far beyond our mortal bound. 
See Truth indeed and learn what Beauty 
meant. 



38 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



HAUNTED 

THEY hold me fast through the puls- 
ing night 
And fast through the glowing day ; 
Affection, riches, and youth and ease, 
I walk in a thornless way. 

But still afar on an outer edge. 

Where the light uncertain lies, 
There *s always wandering Love, the ghost. 

With his tired and timid eyes. 

And my thoughts are far with the shrinking 
ghost 

And my heart is otherwhere. 
In my golden noon is a haunting fear; 

In my star-lit nights, despair. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 39 



IN WINTER 

SHE died, quite suddenly, at morn : 
I, weeping, fled that house of woe. 
To find without, in paths forlorn. 
Her little footprints in the snow. 



40 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



WORDS 

NOW listen, friend, I say the simple 
word 
Of " holiness " — and, straight, within my 

ears 
I hear the church-bells ringing far away 
And sounding faintly through the purple 

dusk ; 
A scent of lilies fills the quiet air, 
And, shadowed forth against a night of stars. 
Divine and terrible, I see the Cross. 

The mind is more than artist In its power, 
A word is but a wand for sorceries. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 41 



THE VISION 

"XT THAT figures, slowly toiling up the 

^ ^ slope ? " 

" Two lovers, for whose love was once no 
hope." 

" But now their pain is o'er, their grief is 

stilled ! " 
" Yes, now an open heaven, dreams fulfilled.'* 

" Yet, listen ! there are sobs instead of 

song ! 
" Ah, comrade, know you not their way was 

long?" 

'T is strange they falter thus near heaven's 

gate," 
For lovers, even love may come too late." 



C( 



cc 



" Alas ! her face grows pale beneath his 

kiss ! " 
" My friend, the man's desire ends oft in 

this." 



42 THE DAYS THAT PASS 

'' Before such eager eyes what love can die ? " 
"And yet all fates are just; look up on 

high." 

" A shadow, — now, a flame — above I 

see ! " 
"The body was his choice, the soul goes 

free." 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 43 



PURPLE SHADOWS 

MY love IS dead; now all men know 
That weary golden head lies low, 
She loved but beauty, — so we weep, 
She loved but truth, — so fell asleep. 

How fair upon her bed she lies ! 

Too strange, too sweet for mortal eyes ; 

Christ ! to hide her safe away. 
Concealed until the Judgment Day ! 

1 sought, I sought, and here I bring 
The purple shadows : dusk and Spring 
And sea and hills have known their birth. 
These veils impalpable of earth. 

All purple shadows, one by one. 
To hide from heat of earthly sun ; 
All purple shadows, soft they rest 
On golden hair and snowy breast. 



44 THE DAYS THAT PASS 

Farewell, O Love, O Fancy's child ! 
The world and you are reconciled ; 
The purple shadows, veil on veil, 
Shall wrap you close when love must fail. 






THE DAYS THAT PASS 45 



(C 



THE LOST LEADER 



TT THERE is my leader," mused the 



Brain, 

" The gay, audacious Heart, 
The Heart which leads the way 

When I demur 
And, coward-like, draw back ? 

" Daring what none divine, the Heart ! 

It lights with torch of flame 
My blind and groping creed. 

Where I see nought 
Reveals the hidden sense." 

" Yours it is now to take control 

O unadventurous Brain ! 
The joyous, dancing Heart, 

Which led you on. 
Grows faint at last and old." 



46 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



JEWELS 

IS love not true? By day the sunkissed 
flowers 
Absorb my soul ; the violet, the rose, 
The jessamine : but when their petals close. 
And softly come the dark and mystic hours, 
The midnight hours when none is there to 

see. 
Then gems I take from out their secret 

place. 
They gleam upon my bowed, inquiring face 
In all their still and splendid mystery. 
I feel myself enthralled, and yet defied. 
Lured deep within the sapphire's starry 

heart. 
And from the pearFs white glory thrust 

apart. 
And by the ruby's passion still denied. 
The topaz mocks me with its heart of fire. 
The strange, green emerald repels desire. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 47 



G 



THE UNION 

OD looked on life and found it lone 

and sad, 
So fashioned Death, the master, strong 

and free. 
" Go forth within the world, O Death ! " 

he bade ; 
" There Life, thy feverish bride, awaiteth 

thee." 



48 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



THE AGED LAND 

GREAT Egypt, grown too old for love ! 
She longs to lie forgot, 
Enshrouded deep in desert sands. 
Till earth should know her not. 

But still the Nile preserves her soul 

From that profounder rest ; 
The ardent lover, ever young, 

Lies warm upon her breast. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 



49 



I 



THE FACES 

LOOK along the row of little frames: 
The frames of silver, vellum, gold, and 

glass. 
Of old brocade and ivory and brass. 



From out each frame there looks a woman's 
face : 
And one a great tragedienne from France 
And one a school-girl with her artless 
glance. 

A fair Madonna face is one ; and one 

A woman of the world, superb and cold. 
And one a queen, and one obscure and 
old. 

The same strange smile on every differing 
face 
Half-sad, half-questioning — I seem to 

see 
Some mystery of woman's destiny. 



50 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



THE DEPARTING GUEST 

UPON the threshold, near the open 
door, 
Still lingers Love, the guest. 
And I, like courteous host, a visit o'er, 
Attend the last behest. 

O Love ! so long beneath my roof a guest. 

Is this, indeed, the end ? 
Can you, the cloud-born, leave like all the 
rest. 

Mere chance, departing friend ? 

And now to empty house I turn aside. 

Here other guests will dwell. 
Here mirth may come, and pleasure long 
abide. 

But Love has said farewell. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 51 



FORBIDDEN 

ESUS CHRIST!" I cried; " IVe 
borne sorrow, wrong, and fear ; 
No more can man endure, I make an ending 
here/* 



J 



" Little lonely one,'* said Lord Jesus Christ 

to me ; 
" Thou art not alone, for here am I with 

thee." 

" Little coward heart," said Lord Jesus 

Christ once more ; 
" Just a few more years, and then an open 

door." 



tofa 



52 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



REVOLT 

O WASTE of the wearisome days, 
O content of the blind, 
O curse of the commonplace ways, — 

I am off to my kind ! 
To paths of the midnight and morn, 

Of the drought and the frost. 
Where glory and freedom are born, 

And where peace must be lost ; 
To those who have suffered and failed. 

Who have dreamed and desired. 
To those who have warred and prevailed, 

Who have sunk and aspired. 
O voices that cry in the night. 

Desires that are dumb, 
Wild children of change and delight. 

My brothers — I come ! 



THE DAYS THAT PASS S3 



UNAVAILING 

IF I knew 'twere the very day, 
O friend, so far away, 
What thing could I find to say ! 

If I knew that in one more night, 

The world would pass from sight, 
What word should I dare to write ! 

Yes, though the hour had come. 
My lips would still be dumb, 
I should die as I lived, in sum. 

I should pass from my place below. 

The years would come and go ; 
Dear friend, you would never know ! 



54 THE DAYS THAT PASS 



THE POET 

DISTRAUGHT, half-puzzled by the 
doors that close 
Abruptly in his face, 
Bewildered where the crowd of traffic flows. 
Like one of other race, 

Unmindful of the hours or of the day, 

Or those who mock afar. 
He dreams forever of the rose in May. 

He sees the evening star. 



THE DAYS THAT PASS ^s 



THE DAYS THAT PASS 

BIRTH, on a blazing noon, 
Childhood among the flowers, 
Youth 'neath a changing moon, 
Love with its silver hours. 
Pain in a silence born. 
Knowledge with fitful gleam. 
Death, and a life outworn; — 
Lo ! it was all a dream ! 



MAR 5 1907 



\ 



\ 



n 



;i 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: June 2009 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724) 779-2111 



i 



